Two and half years after Natal has been announced as a host city for the World Cup, Arena das Dunas stadium finally is now becoming reality. The most delayed stadium for the World Cup must be completed by December 2013, as estimated by the Government of Rio Grande do Norte, and by OAS, the company granted with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contract.
In spite of demolitions of Machadão stadium and Machadinho gymnasium have not been started, Demétrio Torres, State secretary of the World Cup, states that the works of Arena das Dunas already advanced by 15%. This figure given by the secretary considers the preliminary phase, which involves the area isolation, obtainment of licenses, earthworks and works in the sewer and electrical facilities.
“We hope that the demolition of Machadão and Machadinho starts until the [September] 15th,” estimates Torres. “We decided for the mechanical and gradual demolition as the work advances. Implosion would demand time and a large mobilization.”
Engineer Charles Maia, CEO of the company created to manage the new sports venue of Natal, Arena das Dunas Concessões e Evento, states that the foundation works should start by the south area of the stadium once completed the earthworks.
At this time, 160 workers are servicing in the area. According to Maia, this figure must jump to 700 workers as the work advances.
“On time”
Even with the delay, Torres insists in stating that the work schedule for Arena das Dunas construction is on time. “We gained 45 days in relation to the schedule prepared in December last year. We are strictly on time and the stadium works will be completed on December 30, 2013.”
The reason why the secretary states positively that the stadium will be delivered on the expected date is the fact that Arena das Dunas Concessões e Evento does not have any pending issue with the Justice or the inspection bodies.
“Natal is the only city that holds a document attesting the lawfulness of the bidding process. Indeed, we learned from the errors of the other cities to fix ours. We conducted several meetings with COL, TCU, TCE and the Public Prosecution Office. The work has only been started when all the decisions and procedures were legal, in contrast with other cities, where the works started before or in parallel with the inspections and legal proceedings,” he commented.
“This work does not accept amendments, which usually delay public works. Thus, the stadium will be delivered in December 2013, with no delays”.
Financing
The estimated cost for the works is R$ 400 million, with R$ 300 million (75%) funding by a loan from National Development Bank (BNDES). The financing agreement is being prepared.
“These funds will be released in installments equivalent to 10% of the total amount, with the first one slightly greater (20%), and released thirty days after the agreement execution,” stated Torres, who expects the first installment still in September.
From Estrelão to Arena das Dunas
The Arena das Dunas project was born with the name of “Estrelão”. And the location indicated by the state government in order that Natal was a candidate to be a host city of the World Cup was an area located in the city of Parnamirim, in the Great Natal area, close to Augusto Severo Airport.
However, the 15-km distance separating the indicated area from the major hotels in the city, most of them installed along the seashore, discarded Estrelão project. When the proposal was rejected upon the first inspection by FIFA, the idea of building a new stadium in the downtown area arose, in a place where the Machadão/Machadinho Sports Complex and governmental administrative buildings are installed.
To preserve the public heritage, the option for renewing the old Machadão stadium, constructed in 1972, was first considered at a cost of R$ 150 million. However, the winner proposal was Arena das Dunas project, which major purpose was the complete renewal of the surrounding region of the complex.
Hotels, museum, new state and city administration buildings, banks, green area, and even an artificial pound, would be constructed in addition to the stadium. According to the government, the European crisis of 2008 dropped the initial idea, which had enchanted FIFA. Only the stadium remained from the original project that has accredited Natal to be one of the 12 host cities of the World Cup.
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04/05 | News
